Frequently Asked Questions

Q: The governor has put a lot of focus on aerospace recently – including new investments in aerospace training and a new statewide coalition aimed at aerospace competitiveness. Is it worth the investment? Why so much emphasis on aerospace?

A: Aerospace is critical to Washington’s economic success. Currently 84,000 Washingtonians hold an aerospace related job at one of 650 Washington aerospace companies. And we know there’s plenty of room to grow. In fact, Boeing just announced it plans to hire 1,200 workers at its Renton plant, and will increase 737 production from 31.5 a month now, to 35 a month by January, and to 38 in the spring of 2013. That additional work will trickle down to our aerospace supply companies.

Washington’s aerospace industry is more than just Boeing, though. As already mentioned – Washington is home to 650 companies that make up our aerospace supply chain. These are companies that that provide the tires our planes land on, that build the seats we sit in, that create the bolts and screws that hold the planes together, that supply the in-flight video and entertainment systems that we watch to pass time. Our companies make every part of an airplane – and that’s what these investments are about. It’s about ensuring our economic success by helping our aerospace companies succeed and grow in Washington state.

Q: Aren’t other states trying the same strategy? How will this trip set Washington state apart, when other states are doing the same thing?

A: The fact that other states will be at the Paris Air Show is exactly why Washington can’t afford to not have a presence there. We know that the governors of South Carolina, Virginia, Oklahoma, Alabama and Mississippi will be at the Air Show, telling companies to look at their states for business. The governor is confident that Washington state has stronger selling points – including our highly trained workforce and friendly business environment – but those selling points don’t help our state if companies don’t hear them.

Q: Who’s paying for this trip?

A: It’s important to note that private industry delegates attending this trade mission are responsible for their own costs. No state money is used to help business delegates travel.

The state will be paying for the governor’s trip, as well as the costs for two employees from the governor’s office who will help coordinate the trade mission. Additionally, the state will be paying for three workers from the state’s Department of Commerce to attend the trade mission, including Director Rogers Weed, who will be leading many of the key business meetings.

In all, the state’s investment will be less than $40,000. And we know the investment pays off. The governor’s trade mission to Asia last September resulted in $10 million in immediate new sales and contracts. Additionally, following the trip, food export sales to China and Hong Kong grew to $247 million during the recent October to March period, up 29 percent from $191 million during the same period in 2009/10.

Q: How do you justify spending tax-payer dollars to go to Europe when we are in financial hard times?

A: We know that if we sit idly by while other states are out promoting their aerospace industry and their new innovations, Washington state is out-sold. We lose out on critical opportunities to promote Washington businesses – which makes it more difficult for our businesses to grow and create jobs. We can’t sit back and hope businesses find us – we need to be hitting the ground running, selling our state and the advantages of doing business here.

Knowing that other states are making trade missions – and other key aerospace states will be represented at the Paris Air Show, this is a small investment to ensure a strong economic recovery.

And we know the investment pays off. The governor’s trade mission to Asia last September resulted in $10 million in immediate new sales and contracts. Additionally, following the trip, food export sales to China and Hong Kong grew to $247 million during the recent October to March period, up 29 percent from $191 million during the same period in 2009/10.

A: The governor wants to make sure that Washington taxpayers know that no promises are being made – that she’s not accepting any corporate sponsorship that may appear to have expectations attached. Most importantly, the governor is representing the 650 companies in Washington involved in aerospace, from the very small to the very large.

Did you know?

Washington state is home to 650 aerospace companies, which employ nearly 84,000 Washington aerospace employees.

Washington state's aerospace industry generated $41 Billion in gross income in 2010, and contributed $135.5 million in state tax revenue.

This is Gov. Gregoire’s second visit to the Paris Air Show. In 2005, Gov. Gregoire led a similar delegation to Paris, where Washington reported $12.2 million in export sales, and six new aerospace investments in our state from Europe.

Gov. Gregoire's 2010 trade mission to Asia resulted in $10 million in immediate new sales and investments.

Washington state has untapped opportunities in Germany to expand our presence in the life sciences, aerospace and automotive sectors. Our companies, people and products are highly competitive in key areas of demand for these industries.

Washington’s business climate is consistently rated among the top tier states for business. We’re ranked by Forbes in the top five states to do business, we were recently ranked No. 2 in the New Economy Index, and we were just named by Jim Cramer as the fifth best state for small business.